ARQUE Systems
Spin-off from Forschungszentrum Jülich and RWTH Aachen University signs license agreement for breakthrough quantum computing technology
Quantum computing is arguably one of the most powerful technologies of the future. In theory, it has the potential to disrupt the entire industry. However, its full potential is yet to be realized and there are still some major challenges to be addressed in order to bring quantum computing into practice. ARQUE Systems GmbH, a spin-off of Forschungszentrum Jülich and RWTH Aachen University, is working together with researchers from both institutions on a quantum chip that represents a decisive breakthrough for the application of quantum computers. With the signing of a license agreement for their impressive patent portfolio, the researchers-turned-entrepreneurs are now set to unleash the full power of quantum computing.
From logistics to drug development to production chains to chemicals, industry is currently facing unprecedented challenges: The ever-growing complexity of computing tasks already exceeds the capacities of traditional bit computing – even state-of-the-art super computers fail to keep pace with industrial demands. This is where quantum computing comes in.
Unlike conventional computers based on bits that can be either on or off, quantum computers use quantum bits, or qubits, that can be on and off at the same time, and also influence the activity of other qubits. In terms of computing power, this translates into an enormous advantage over traditional computers. However, the asset of computing power also comes with a disadvantage: Current quantum chips are very sensitive to outside influences, necessitating thousands of physical qubits for correction algorithms and thus making universally applicable quantum computers a complex, time-consuming and costly investment. This is where ARQUE Systems comes in.
Combining quantum computing with semiconductor technology
The technological edge of ARQUE Systems lies in the manufacturing process and the size of the qubits. The team’s unique technology is based on semiconductor qubits that capture individual electrons, which allows for integration into the well-established and widely used semiconductor technology: “ARQUE's technology is much closer than other quantum computing platforms to existing semiconductor technology in terms of both production and materials,” explains Prof. Hendrik Bluhm, Leader of the Quantum Technology Group, Co-director of the JARA Institute for Quantum Information, and Scientific Director and Co-founder of ARQUE Systems GmbH.
At the same time, the team is advancing its licensed technology to tackle the problem of qubit size with the help of moving qubits. The architecture of the processor allows qubits to be moved on the chip along so-called shuttling paths, similar to a conveyor belt. "In order to have space on the chip not only for the qubits, but also for the supply line and the control electronics, we have to increase the distance between the qubits. In order to still entangle the quantum states over the distance, we need to be able to move the electrons on the chip. ARQUE's architecture and QPU technology are, to our knowledge, the most far-reaching approach to fit many qubits on a single chip. We want to build fault-tolerant, universal quantum computers that run the algorithms for which quantum computing has become known," says Markus Beckers, Institute Manager at the Chair of Experimental Physics and Institute of Physics II, Director of Operations at JARA Institute for Quantum Information, and CEO and Co-founder of ARQUE Systems GmbH.
Cross-institutional research becoming industry-changing innovation
ARQUE Systems’ innovative technology has its roots in the Jülich Aachen Research Alliance (JARA). Over the years, the close collaboration between Forschungszentrum Jülich and RWTH Aachen University has resulted in an impressive portfolio of patent-pending inventions by top researchers in the field of quantum computing. Four of them have decided to translate these cutting-edge inventions into groundbreaking innovation: In September 2022, Prof. Hendrik Bluhm, Dr. Lars Schreiber, Dr. Jan Klos and Dr. Markus Beckers from the JARA Institute for Quantum Information founded their spin-off ARQUE Systems in order to take their technology to the next level. The founding team is complemented by Dr. Wolfgang Meißner, who brings years of economic and financial expertise to the table, which he has acquired in a global management consulting company as well as through the coordination and auditing of major projects and the establishment of the largest foundation under public law in Germany.
Throughout the innovation process, RWTH Innovation and the Innovation Management and Patents Departments of Forschungszentrum Jülich supported the researchers in patenting and licensing the extensive invention portfolio to ARQUE Systems. With the help of the recently signed license agreement, their unique technology, RWTH as shareholder on board and strong industry partners, the start-up is now set to build a quantum computer whose architecture is designed from the outset for millions of qubits. As discussed in a recent preprint, the licensed technology enables the realization of quantum processors with more than 100 qubits with present day technology.